About St. Margaret of Scotland · Maggie Valley, North Carolina
St. Margaret of Scotland is a small Roman Catholic parish in Maggie Valley, North Carolina, tucked into the mountains of western North Carolina. It belongs to the Diocese of Charlotte and serves about 130–140 registered families year-round, swelling with visitors during the summer tourist season. The parish was founded and built by Father Michael William Murphy in the late 1960s, and his legacy of faith formation, devotion to the Eucharist, and the Living Waters Catholic Reflection Center continues to shape the community today.
- Established
- 1968
- Patron
- St. Margaret of Scotland
- Rector
- Rev. Dr. W. Becket Soule, O.P.
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte
Why belong here
St. Margaret of Scotland offers an unusually deep intellectual and spiritual formation program for a parish of its size, including a Wednesday morning Scripture study that has worked its way line-by-line through Revelation, Genesis, and into Leviticus, a Tuesday afternoon Aquinas Circle going through the Summa Theologica one question at a week, and even a Biblical Hebrew class — all led directly by the pastor, Dominican Father W. Becket Soule. Tucked into the scenic Smoky Mountains of western North Carolina and home to the Living Waters Catholic Reflection Center (the renovated Falling Waters Motel Father Murphy originally built), the parish welcomes visitors warmly in summer and serves about 130–140 families year-round with daily Mass, Saturday Vigil, two Sunday Masses, and Saturday confessions.
Mass times at St. Margaret of Scotland
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:30–3:30 PM
- Or by appointment
Parish History & Founding
St. Margaret of Scotland was founded and built by layman Michael William Murphy, a wealthy Detroit businessman who arrived in North Carolina in September 1950 and spent two decades helping build Catholic churches across the western mountains before being ordained a priest himself at age 80. He bought 33 acres in Maggie Valley, converted a building into a chapel, and — after receiving permission from Bishop Vincent Waters of Raleigh — constructed a church large enough to seat 200 people. It was consecrated on July 14, 1968, by Archbishop Luigi Raimondi, the Vatican's apostolic delegate. The parish was named in honor of Murphy's late mother, Margaret, reflecting the strong Scottish heritage of Haywood County. Today the parish has grown to more than 130–140 registered families, fulfilling Murphy's prophecy that the church he built "for the future" would one day be full every Sunday.
- Consecration: July 14, 1968, by Archbishop Luigi Raimondi
- Dedication also noted in August 1969 by Bishop Vincent Waters
- Founded by Michael William Murphy, later ordained May 11, 1972 (Ascension Day)
- Parish named in honor of Murphy's late mother, Margaret Murphy
Father Michael William Murphy — Founder, Builder, Pastor
Father Murphy's life is the founding story of the parish. He first came to western North Carolina in 1950 and helped build churches in Murphy, Sylva (St. Mary, dedicated 1955), and the Newman Center at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee. After building St. Margaret, Bishop Waters urged him to become a priest. He studied at St. Meinrad Seminary in Indiana and was ordained on May 11, 1972, by Bishop Michael J. Begley — at age 80, in the very church he had built. He served as pastor of St. Margaret until his death at age 98 (one source says 99) in April 1991. His name lives on in the Murphy-Garland Parish Hall and in the Living Waters Catholic Reflection Center, the renovated Falling Waters Motel he once operated.
- Ordained May 11, 1972, at age 80 by Bishop Michael J. Begley
- Died April 1991 at age 98 (one source says 99)
- Also built St. Mary Church in Sylva and the WCU Newman Center
- Built the original 25-unit Falling Waters Motel, later the Living Waters Catholic Reflection Center
Faith Formation & Adult Education
St. Margaret of Scotland has built a reputation for unusually deep adult faith formation, led directly by Dominican Father W. Becket Soule. The Wednesday morning Scripture study, started around 2020, works through the Bible chapter by chapter — beginning with Revelation, then beginning Genesis in 2022, and as of the most recent Catholic News Herald report working through Leviticus chapter 11. Out of the weekly Bible study emerged the Tuesday afternoon Aquinas Circle, which takes up one theological question a week from St. Thomas Aquinas' Summa Theologica. A newer addition is the Thursday Biblical Hebrew class, using the Cambridge Biblical Hebrew workbook, which Father Soule offers because of his own six years of Hebrew study in graduate school. The classes draw a wide range of students — Catholics, other Christians, and even Jewish participants — and range in age from people in their 20s to retirees.
- Wednesday morning Scripture study (chapter by chapter through the Bible)
- Tuesday afternoon Aquinas Circle (Summa Theologica, one question per week)
- Thursday Biblical Hebrew class (Cambridge Biblical Hebrew workbook)
- All classes led by Father W. Becket Soule, O.P.
- Open to non-Catholics and people of other faith traditions
Living Waters Catholic Reflection Center
The Living Waters Catholic Reflection Center is a popular year-round retreat facility on the parish grounds in Maggie Valley. It originated as the Falling Waters Motel, a 25-unit motel Father Michael Murphy built on land he purchased in the valley. After his ordination, the motel was renovated under Bishop Michael J. Begley's direction for use as a Catholic retreat center and continues to welcome retreatants seeking spiritual renewal in the Smoky Mountains.
- Originally the 25-unit Falling Waters Motel built by Father Murphy
- Renovated under Bishop Begley for use as a Catholic reflection center
- Located on parish grounds in Maggie Valley
- Operates year-round as a retreat facility
Parish Staff & Clergy
St. Margaret of Scotland is served by Dominican Father W. Becket Soule, O.P., who came to the parish in 2020 and personally leads the parish's signature adult faith-formation classes in Scripture, the Summa Theologica, and Biblical Hebrew. The Diocese of Charlotte directory also lists Reverend Frank Joseph Seabo, Jr. in connection with the parish.
- Rev. Dr. W. Becket Soule, O.P. — Pastor
- Reverend Frank Joseph Seabo, Jr. — listed on Diocese of Charlotte directory
Parish Identity & Patron
The parish takes its name and identity from St. Margaret of Scotland (c. 1045–1093), the pious queen of King Malcolm III who was known for her charity to the poor and her deep devotion to the Eucharist. The parish's patronal feast day is celebrated on November 16. Founder Father Michael Murphy chose the name in honor of his late mother, Margaret Murphy, on the suggestion of Bishop Vincent Waters, who noted the strong Scottish heritage of Haywood County.
- Patron: St. Margaret of Scotland
- Feast Day: November 16
- Patron chosen in honor of founder Father Murphy's mother, Margaret Murphy
Visiting Maggie Valley & Getting Involved
The parish welcomes about 130–140 registered families year-round and hosts scores of additional visitors during the summer tourist season in Maggie Valley, a popular Smoky Mountains destination. Daily Mass is offered Tuesday through Saturday morning; weekend Masses include the Saturday Vigil and two Sunday morning Masses. Those interested in the parish's faith-formation classes (Scripture study, Aquinas Circle, or Biblical Hebrew) can contact Father Soule at the parish office at (828) 926-0106 or [email protected]. The parish also hosts a Knights of Columbus council.
- Parish serves ~130–140 registered families plus summer visitors
- Knights of Columbus council based at the parish (Council #192)
- Contact for faith-formation classes: parish office, (828) 926-0106
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Michael William Murphy1972–1991
Founder, builder, and first pastor; ordained at age 80 in the church he built; died at age 98/99 in April 1991.